Reform Spokesman Zia Yusuf Faces Heated Exchange with Migrants on BBC Question Time
LONDON – A BBC Question Time panel descended into a furious debate last night as Reform UK spokesman Zia Yusuf defended the party’s hardline immigration policies, clashing directly with migrants who arrived in the UK via small boats. The exchange centered on Reform’s pledge to deport all illegal migrants, a policy championed by potential leader Nigel Farage.
The discussion began when host Fiona Bruce questioned yusuf about the potential deportation of individuals like Ashraf, a migrant featured on the program. Yusuf initially stated he lacked specific knowledge of Ashraf’s case, but pivoted to broader statistics, asserting, “If you are entering from a war zone, it is indeed generally women and children first and the vast majority of the people coming to this country, via the English Channel, illegally, are men.” He emphasized his reliance on “statistics” and “data” in policy formulation,stating,”I think that is a sensible way to formulate policy…and we should use language clearly and accurately.”
Pressed by Bruce on Farage’s commitment to deport all illegal migrants, Yusuf affirmed, “Absolutely.If you are in this country illegally…if nigel Farage is our next Prime Minister…you will be deported back to the country from which you came.” He defended his use of the term “invasion” to describe the influx of migrants,citing the dictionary definition as “an unwanted incursion into a space of land,” and noting that 170,000 people have arrived from countries including Syria,Afghanistan,and Iraq.
The debate intensified when a second migrant, originally from Iran, spoke emotionally about his four-month-old daughter, born in the UK. “She’s growing up here, learning English…She won’t know how to read and write Farsi, or even speak farsi,” he said, questioning what woudl happen to his daughter under a Reform government.
Yusuf responded sharply, drawing a distinction between legal and illegal immigration. “My parents came here legally. They did not come here illegally. There’s a clear dividing line in British politics,” he stated, adding, “Do you want to vote for a party that will prioritise the interests of foreign nationals who came here illegally, or do you want to vote for a party that is going to prioritise british citizens who work hard…and toil to pay taxes?”
The exchange sparked further disagreement, with Liberal Democrat’s Daisy Cooper challenging yusuf’s framing of the issue. A heated argument then erupted over benefits for migrants, with Yusuf citing a £10 billion Global Credit bill for foreign nationals last year.green Party leader Zack Polanski claimed reform intends to cut £49 a week from asylum seeker support.
Conservative Shadow Justice Secretary Kieran Mullan dismissed a claim by Cooper that Brexit was hindering returns, pointing out that similar issues were occurring in Italy and Spain, and that the UK had actually overseen more returns under existing agreements.
